Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Every thing with which a person plays is falsehood, except that a man shoots arrows with a bow, trains his horse in the etiquettes of battle, or plays with his wife for amusement—these three games are permissible. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever, after learning archery, forgets it, has shown ingratitude for the blessing that was granted to him.

(Second narration) The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Every play of a man is false) except for three things: a man shooting arrows with his bow, training his horse, and playing with his wife—these are matters of truth. And whoever learns archery and then forgets it, he is ungrateful for what he had learned.